Pull type frictional resistant exercising device



y 1970 E. E. HOLKESVICK 3,510,132

PULL TYPE FRICTIONAL RESISTANT EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6;, Ms flrm usyg Ji /ems, 1% E04 19055544 fla /w y 1970 E. E. HOLKESVICK 3,510,132

PULL TYPE FRICTIONAL RESISTANT EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fay A Is' flrmzusys .Hews, .K/EC/f. 05951; f 15 9M United States Patent Ofice 3,510,132 Patented May 5, 1970 3,510,132 PULL TYPE FRICTIONAL RESISTANT EXERCISING DEVICE Edgar E. Holkesvick, 1801 Smokewood, Fullerton, Calif. 92631 Filed Dec. 26, 1967, Ser. N0. 693,206 Int. Cl. A6311 21/00, 21/12 US. Cl. 272-79 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An exercising device for use with a length of rope and adapted to have one end thereof fastened to a support while the length of rope is pulled back and forth therethrough. The exercising device includes two elongated leg members to receive turns of rope therearound, guide means between the leg members adjacent the attachment end for guiding the rope from one leg member to the other leg member, and retaining means adjacent the other ends of the leg members to prevent the turns of rope from slipping off.

The present invention relates generally to the physical conditioning art, and more particularly to a novel adjustable exercising device adapted for use in the home and on the athletic practice field, and by amateur athletes as well as by professional athletes.

At the present time, many men and women and boys and girls participate in team and individual sports, both on an amateur basis and at the professional level. To a certain extent, in due course an athletes skill and timing, as such, tend to reach a peak and level off. Consequently, in many instances the main determining factors between competing athletes are physical strength and endurance, which can be improved upon or increased by physical conditioning or exercising.

Also, because an increase in physical strength and endurance depends to a considerable extent upon the frequency with which the athlete exercises, it is advantageous to be able to exercise in a home as well as on the athletic field or in a gymnasium.

In addition, because various accessories can be used with exercising devices, e.g., a head harness, a shoulder harness, and a running harness, it is advantageous to be able to quickly interchange such accessories.

Businessmen who spend a great amount of their time at a desk in an office are often advised by their doctors to exercise in moderation as often as possible, in order to improve their general health.

There are many types of exercising devices for sale and in use at the present time, but many of these are large and cumbersome such that they can only be used in gymnasiums, whereas others are unduly expensive, and some are extremely limited in the types of exercises which one can perform with them.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel adjustable exercising device which is small in size so that it can be easily transported from one locality to another, and which can be used in a home or on an athletic field or in a gymnasium.

Another object is to provide such an exercising device which is sturdy and of rugged construction so that it can be used by strong professional athletes as well as by less Well-developed amateur athletes.

A further object is to provide an exercising device for use with a length of rope, in which the rope and the handle attached thereto can be easily and quickly removed.

Yet another object is to provide such an exercising device which can be easily and quickly adjusted to vary the opposing frictional resistance by even the most inexperienced person, and which is relatively easy to understand and use.

A further and important object of the present invention is to provide such an exercising device which is relatively inexpensive and which can be mass-produced.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an adjustable exercising device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, shown being used with two-handed handles and in combination with a floorboard to which it is removably attached;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the exercising device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a first modified form of exercising device somewhat similar to the one shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the manner in which the rope is twisted around the portions of the frame to adjust the amount of resistance;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second modified form of the subject adjustable exercising device;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second modified form of the exercising device, on a reduced scale, illustrating its use with single-handed handles;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third modified form of the subject exercising device, illustrating the manner in which the rope is wrapped around the frame in order to adjust the amount of tension in the device; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the exercising device and floorboard of FIG. 1, shown used with a shoulder harness of the type used by basketball players.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, and specifically FIG. 1, the numeral 10 indicates generally the preferred form of an adjustable exercising device embodying the teachings of the present invention, provided with a length of rope 12 which has a two-handed handle 14 removably attached at each end thereof, and which is used in combination with a floorboard 16 by an athlete A.

As shown in FIG. 2, the exercising device 10 includes a frame which is preferably cast from a lightweight, noncorrosive metal such as aluminum, and which is of generally U-shaped configuration with opposed elongated, cylindrical leg portions 18 which have smooth outer surfaces and which are of a length to receive several turns of the rope therearound, and which are interconnected at one set of ends by a curved portion 20. At the other set of ends is a cross-wise extending cylindrical retaining bar portion 22 with a smooth outer surface which is preferably cast integral with the leg portions 18. The retaining bar portion is preferably straight, or at least not concave on the inside so that the portions of rope 12 are not caused to move together and rub, as will be discussed more fully hereinafter.

A rigid guide-bar portion 24 extends cross-wise between the leg portions 18 adjacent the curved end portion 20 to provide a hook-receiving eye 26 therebetween, for a purpose to appear. The guide-bar portion 24 is also preferably cast integral with the leg portions 18.

Extending transversely from the guide-bar portion 24 adjacent its center, are two opposed shaft members 28,

each of which has a short cylindrical roller 30 with a concave face 32 rotatably mounted thereon. As will be discussed more fully hereinafter, the shafts 28 and rollers 30 can be replaced by opposed short studs 30a as shown in the first modified construction (FIG. and 130a in the second modified construction (FIGS. 6 and 7), which studs are preferably cast integral with the guidebar portion 24.

Parallel with the retaining-bar portion 22 and spaced therefrom is an elongated cylindrical guard roller 34 (FIGS. 2 and 3) with two spaced apart shallow grooves 36 in the outer surface thereof, which guard roller is rotatably mounted on pins 38 threadedly fastened in apertures 40 formed in the leg portions 18. Although it is preferable from an operational standpoint, to use the roller 34, the guard roller 34 and its supporting pins 38 can be replaced by a cylindrical guard-bar 34a as shown in FIG. 5. As mentioned hereinabove with respect to the use of studs 30a in place of the short rollers 30, the guard-bar 34a is also preferably formed integral with the leg portions 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, one method of using the exercising device 10 is with a floorboard 16 which is preferably made from plywood and of rectangular configuration and large enough so that the athlete A can stand on it. Fastened .to the center of the board 16 and projecting upwardly therefrom, is a hook 42, which is adapted to extend through the eye 26 (FIG. 2).

To insert the rope 12 in the exercising device 10 and adjust it prior to the usage thereof, the center portion of the rope 12 is doubled back upon itself to form a loop or bight and the loop first inserted between the retainingbar portion 22 and the guard-bar 34a (FIG. 5). The loop is then enlarged and passed over the curved portion 20 of the frame as shown by the broken lines in FIG. 5, then passed through the opening between the guard-bar 34a and the guide-bar 24, and this sequence repeated to provide the desired number of turns of rope 12 on each leg portion 18. Finally, the loop of the rope 12 is dropped onto one of the short studs 30a. The result is illustrated in FIG. 2, the only difference being that in FIG. 2, the bight of the rope is inserted between the retaining bar and the guard roller 34, and the end of the loop is positioned on one of the short cylindrical rollers 30.

As will be obvious from the description of the operation of the device hereafter, the number of turns of rope 12 around each leg portion 18 determines the amount of force which is required to move the rope through the device, and therefore the amount of exercise which results.

As mentioned above, one method of using the adjustable exercising device 10 is with the floorboard 16 shown in FIG. 1. When using the device in this manner, the athlete A first grasps one of the handles 14 with both hands while in a crouch position with head up and arms straight, and with the hands slightly below knee level. The portion of the rope attached to the other handle, which will be referred to as the trailing portion, is grasped with the fingers of one hand at the handle so that the athlete A, in effect, is grasping both portions of the rope 12 which are connected to the exercising device.

He then proceeds as follows:

First, while holding the handle and the trailing portion of the rope 12, the athlete A pulls upwardly against the handle for approximately ten seconds. This is the isometric portion of the exercise.

Secondly, while releasing the holding pressure on the trailing portion of the rope and permitting it to slide through the fingers, his legs are straightenend and the handle pulled upwardly until the athlete A is in the upright position. This causes the rope 12 to slide through the exercising device and is the beginning of the isotonic portion of the exercise. When the rope 12 is moved through the exercising device 10, it is pulled around one of the leg portions 18, over one of the short rollers 30, around the other leg portion 18 and between the retaining bar portion 22 and the guard roller 34.

Thirdly, the trailing portion of the rope 12 is dropped, and the handle 14 pulled upwardly to a position under the chin, as shown in FIG. 1. During this movement, the trailing portion of the rope 12 rides over the guard roller 34 in one of the shallow grooves 36 so as to maintain the turns of rope around the adjacent leg portion 18 in spaced apart relationship. In short, one of the important advantages of the guard roller 34 is that it prevents the turns of rope 12 from piling up, one on top of the other, above the guide-bar portion 24 when the trailing portion of the rope is dropped or cast aside.

And fourthly, the athlete A rotates the handle 14 and pushes it upwardly above his head, at the esame'time going up on his toes.

If the length of rope between the two handles 14 is properly adjusted, at the end of the aforementioned exercise the handle 14 on the trailing end of the rope will have been pulled to adjacent the exercising device 10, whereby the athlete A can grasp the other handle 14 in the manner previously described and repeat the exercise, in which case the portion of the rope first pulled upon then becomes the trailing portion.

In this manner, the length of rope 12 is moved back and forth through the exercising device, and in actuality around the leg portions 18 and over the short cylindrical roller 30.

It will be readily apparent that the more turns of rope there are on each leg portion 18, the harder it will be for the athlete to move the handle 14 upwardly. The suggested procedure is to start with a minimum number of turns and gradually increase the number as the persons strength increases. It will also be noted that the provision of cylindrical rollers 30 on opposite sides of the guide bar 24 permit an adjustment of one-half turn of rope on each leg portion.

Another method of using the subject exercising device is illustrated in FIG. 10 in which the adjustable exercising device 10 and the floorboard 16 are used with a shoulder harness 52 fastened to one end of a rope 54. This accessory is particularly useful to basketball players in helping to develop their leg muscles for jumping purposes.

In use, the athlete inserts his arms through the two loops of the shoulder harness and the free end of the rope 54 is pulled through the exerciser 10 until the athlete is in a crouch position with knees bent and shoulders back and head up. With the exerciser adjusted to the proper resistance the athlete presses with his legs to reach the standing position. The athlete can hold the free or trailing end of the rope or it can be held by the coach who can thereby cause an initial high resistance, followed by a lesser resistance.

One outstanding advantage of the subject exercising device is the ease and speed with which ropes with different accessories attached thereto can be interchanged. Thus, the athlete can start out with the rope 12 and two-handed handles as shown in FIG. 1 and easily change over to the shoulder harness 52 and the rope 54. To accomplish this result, the athlete merely removes the loop of the rope 12 from engagement with the short cylindrical roller 30 (FIG. 2), passes the loop over the curved portion 20 of the frame, and pulls on both portions of the rope adjacent the retaining bar 22 to strip the turns of rope oif of the leg portions 18 and through the space between the retaining bar 22 and the guard roller 34.

He then grasps the alternate rope 54 (with the harness 52 attached thereto), forms a loop or bight in it and loops it over the curved portion 20 and around the leg portions, as previously described.

As previously indicated, the form of exercising device illustrated in FIG. 5 (first modified form) is substantially the same as that shown in FIG. 2 except that the FIG. 5 version has a fixed guard bar 34a in place of the rotatable guard roller 34, and the studs 30a are used instead of the rollers 30. In short, fixed members are used in place of rotatable members. Although the device of FIG. 5 does not operate quite so smoothly as the one shown in FIG. 2, it closely approaches it in operability and has the added advantage that it is much less expensive to produce because it can be made in a single casting operation without machining and without the use of any cores.

What I refer to as the second modified form of the adjustable exercising device, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is very similar to the form illustrated in FIG. 5 except that the guard bar 34a has been omitted. For convenience of reference, the parts or portions of the second modified device shown in FIG. 6 which are similar to the parts or portions of the device shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, are indicated by a like numeral increased by 100; thus, the leg portions 18 become theleg portions 118.

Although the studs 1301i are preferred in this second modified form of exercising device 110 (FIGS. 6 and 7) for reasons of economy, it will be recognized that the short rollers 30 of FIGS. 2 and 4 could be used in place thereof.

As mentioned above, the guard roller 34 (FIG. 2) or the guard bar 34:: (FIG. 5) of the preferred constructions prevent the trailing portion of the rope from piling up on one of the leg portions during the execution of the exercise illustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, inasmuch as the second modified form of exercising device 110 does not have this guard roller or bar, it is not quite as satisfactory as the construction first described when used in executing the exercise illustrated in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 the adjustable exercising device is shown used with the fioor board 16. In FIG. 6 the second modified exercising device 110 is shown used with a hook 142 which is fastened to a wall 44 or the like.

Referring to FIG. 8, it illustrates the second modified device 110 having a strap 46 looped through the eye 126, said strap including a metal ring 48 at one end thereof and a doubled-back portion 50 at the other end. In use, the doubled-back end 50 is inserted between the top or side of a door and the doorframe adjacent thereto, and the door maintained in the closed position.

The preferred form of the exercising device 10' (FIG. 1) was described as being used with a length of rope 12 having two-handed handles 14 removably attached to each end thereof. The preferred form of device, as well as the various modified forms being described, can a so be used with single-handed handles 114 (FIG. 8), with the athlete grasping one handle in each hand and pulling on them alternately in the manner illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 8.

A further modified form of the subject adjustable exercising device which I refer to as the third modified form 210, is illustrated in FIG 9. The parts and portions thereof which are similar to the parts and portions of the preferred form illustrated in FIG. 2, are identified by like numerals with 200 added thereto; thus, the leg portions 18 become the leg portions 218- The third modified form of exercising device 210 (FIG. 9) resembles the second modified form 110 (FIG. 6) to the extent that the guard bar 34a of FIG. 5 has been omitted. However, in addition, the studs 130a (FIG. 6) have been omitted and the guidebar portion 124 changed to an arcuate configuration to provide an inner annular portion 224a (FIG. 9) which rounds Off the eye 226 for receiving the length of rope. This third modified form of exercising device can also be produced in a single casting operation without machining and without using cores.

To use the third modified form of device 210 (FIG. 9), the rope 12 is necessarily passed through the eye 226 before the handles 114 (or 14) are attached thereto. To adjust the number of turns of rope around each leg portion 218, each handle 114 is merely passed through the center opening of the frame the desired number of times in the manner illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 9.

It will be readily apparent that the number of turns on each leg portion 118 of the second modified form of the device 110 (FIGS. 6 and 8) can be adjusted in like manner, i.e., by inserting either the handle 14 or the handle 114 (depending upon which is being used) through the center opening in the frame. Accordingly, the second modified form of device 110 (FIGS. 6 and 8) has the advantage that it can be easily and quickly adjusted in either of two different ways.

Thus, it is readily apparent that there have been provided several different forms of a novel adjustable exercising device, which fulfill all of the objects and advantages sought therefor and which are especially meritorious because of their simplicity and relatively low cost.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example, and that changes and alterations in the present disclosure which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. An exercising device for use with a length of rope comprising:

a generally U-shaped structure including two elongated leg members with smooth outer surfaces positioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship in the same plane, connected adjacent one set of ends by a base and having an opposed set of ends, each leg member being of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound;

means joining together the leg members near said base and providing with the base an aperture of a size to receive a supporting member for attaching the structure to a support;

means interconnecting said opposed set of ends for preventing turns of rope from slipping off of said leg members; and

guide means positioned between said elongated leg members adjacent said base and extending transversely of the plane of the leg members for guiding a length of rope from one leg member to the other leg member.

2. An exercising device as defined in claim 1 which includes:

a length of rope wrapped at least partially around one leg member, thence onto the guide means, and at least partially around the other leg member; and

a handle member adjacent each end of said length of rope.

3. An exercising device for use with a length of rope,

comprising:

two elongated leg members with opposed sets of ends and smooth outer surfaces positioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship in the same plane; each leg member being of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound;

means joining together one set of ends and providing attachment means for fastening the device to a support;

retaining means on each leg member adjacent the other set of ends for preventing turns of rope from slipping ofi? of said leg members;

guide means extending between said leg members intermediate the attachment means and the retaining means; and

at least one short stud-like projection on said guide means between the leg members and extending from said guide means transversely of the plane of the leg members, for guiding a length of rope from one leg member to the other leg member.

4. An exercising device as defined in claim 3, containing two short stud-like projections on said guide means 7 extending in opposite directions therefrom substantially normal to the plane of the leg members.

5. An exercising device as defined in claim 4 in which the length of the stud-like projections is at least as great as the diameter of the rope to be used with the device, and the stud-like projections are positioned approximately midway between the leg members.

6. An exercising device as defined in claim 4 which includes a short roller member rotatably mounted on each stud-like projection.

7. An exercising device as defined in claim 3 which includes:

a length of rope wrapped at least partially around one leg member, thence over the stud-like projection, and at least partially around the other leg member; and

a handle member adjacent each end of said length of 8. A 1 1 exercising device as defined in claim 3 which includes a short roller member rotatably mounted on the stud-like projection.

9. An exercising device for use with a length of rope, comprising:

two elongated leg members with opposed sets of ends positioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship in the same plane, each leg member being of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound;

means joining together one set of ends and providing attachment means for fastening the device to a sup port;

guide means extending between the leg members adjacent to the attachment means;

at least one short stud-like projection on said guide means extending therefrom transversely of the plane of the leg members for guiding a length of rope from one leg member to the other leg member;

retaining means extending between the leg members adjacent the other set of ends; and

guard means extending between the leg members adjacent to and spaced from the retaining means a distance greater than the diameter of the rope to be used therewith.

10. An exercising device as defined in claim 9 containing two short studlike projections on said guide means extending in opposite directions therefrom substantially normal to the plane of the leg members.

11. An exercising device as defined in claim 10 which includes a short roller member rotatably mounted on each stud-like projection.

12. An exercising device as defined in claim 10 in which: a short roller member is rotatably mounted on each stud-like projection; the guard means comprise an elongated roller; spaced apart shallow grooves are provided in said elongated roller for maintaining two sections of rope passing thereover in spaced apart relationship; and the leg members are substantially parallel.

13. An exercising device as defined in claim 9 which includes a length of rope extending between the retaining means and the guard means, at least partially around one leg member, thence over the stud-like projection, at least partially around the other leg member, and thence between the guard means and the retaining means.

14. An exercising device as defined in claim 9 in which the guard means comprises an elongated roller.

15. The combination of:

a plate-like member of a size for a person to stand upon and having an attachment member extending upwardly therefrom;

an exercising device for use with a length of rope removably attached to said attachment member, said exercising device including:

two elongated leg members with opposed sets of ends positioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship, each leg member being of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound,

means joining together one set of ends and providing attachment means for receiving said at tachment member,

guide means adjacent said attachment means and positioned between the leg members for guiding a length of rope from one leg member to the other leg member, and

retaining means adjacent the other set of ends for preventing turns of rope from slipping off of said leg members;

a length of rope wrapped at least partially around one leg member, thence over the guide means, and at least partially around the other leg member; and

a transversely extending handle removably fastened to the length of rope adjacent each end thereof.

16. The combination defined in claim 15 in which:

the retaining means of the exercising device is a rigid bar, and guard means are provided extending between the leg members adjacent to and spaced from said retaining means;

the length of rope extends between the guard means and the retaining means before wrapping around the leg members; and

each handle comprises an elongated shaft with the rope fastened adjacent the center thereof.

17. An exercising device for use with a length of rope,

comprising:

a rope, a generally U-shaped unitary structure including two elongated leg members with opposed sets of ends and positioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship in the same plane, each leg member having a smooth outer surface and being of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound;

integral means joining together one set of ends and providing attachment means for fastening the device to a support;

an integral rigid retaining bar extending between the leg members adjacent the other set of ends;

an integral rigid guard bar extending between the leg members adjacent to and spaced from the retaining bar a distance at least as great as the diameter of the rope to be used with the device;

an integral rigid guide bar extending between the leg members intermediate the attachment means and the guard bar; and

two integral short stud-like projections on said guide bar adjacent the center thereof exending therefrom in opposite directions substantially normal to the plane of the leg members for guiding a length of rope from one leg member to the other leg member.

18. An exercising device, comprising:

a generally U-shaped structure including two elongated leg members positioned side-by-side in spaced apart relationship connected adjacent one set of ends by a base portion and having an opposed set of ends, each leg member having a smooth outer surface and being of a length to receive several turns of rope therearound;

a rope; means joining together the leg members near said base portion and providing with said base portion an aperture of a size to receive the rope therethrough and to also receive a supporting member for attaching the structure to a support;

means interconnecting the other set of ends for preventing turns of rope from slipping off of said leg mem bers;

a length of rope wrapped at least partially around one leg member, thence through said aperture, and thence at least partially around the other leg memher; and

a transversely extending handle member removably fastened adjacent each end of the rope.

19. An exercising device as defined in claim 18 in which the leg members are of a length and are spaced apart a 9 l0 distance suflicient to provide an opening of a size to pro FOREIGN PATENTS vide for the passage of each of the handle members 289 404 7/1953 Switzerland therethrough for adjustment of the exerciser.

GEORGE I. MARLO, Primary Examiner References Cited 5 W. R. B-ROWNE, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Us. Cl, X R, 3,472,510 10/1969 HOlkCSViCk 27280 27270, 80 

